Community wealth building could address substance use disorders
Authors: Mitchell Berger
Journal: The Lancet Public Health (2023)

We read with interest the Article by Tanith Rose and colleagues1Rose TC Daras K Manley J et al.The mental health and wellbeing impact of a Community Wealth Building programme in England: a difference-in-differences study.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e403-e410Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar and Comment2Adisa O McManus S Community mental health through a complex systems lens.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e392-e393Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar in The Lancet Public Health (June 2023) on community mental health and the economy highlighting the importance of continuing efforts to examine social determinants of health on behavioural health conditions. It is important, though, to note potential impacts of community wealth building and similar efforts on substance use disorders as well as mental health.1Rose TC Daras K Manley J et al.The mental health and wellbeing impact of a Community Wealth Building programme in England: a difference-in-differences study.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e403-e410Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 2Adisa O McManus S Community mental health through a complex systems lens.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e392-e393Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar Although both pieces focus exclusively on mental health, many patients with mental health conditions might also have co-occurring substance use disorders and other comorbidities. In the USA, for instance, the latest available US National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that roughly 17·9 million adults aged 18 or older in 20213US Department of Health and Human Services2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases.https://www.samhsa.gov/data/release/2021-national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-releasesDate: 2021Date accessed: June 2, 2023Google Scholar had a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder. Substance use disorders can be exacerbated by economic and other inequities.4Woolf SH Schoomaker H Life expectancy and mortality rates in the United States, 1959–2017.JAMA. 2019; 322: 1996-2016Crossref PubMed Scopus (487) Google Scholar In 2021, the US Surgeon General issued a report entitled Community Health and Economic Prosperity: Engaging Businesses as Stewards and Stakeholders, noting the importance of business and employer engagement. The report includes substantial discussion and cites examples of place-based investing and work by health care and other institutions.5US Department of Health and Human ServicesCommunity health and economic prosperity: engaging businesses as stewards and stakeholders—a report of the surgeon general.https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/community-health-economic-prosperity/index.htmlDate: 2021Date accessed: June 2, 2023Google Scholar The Healthcare Anchor Network includes several leading US health-care institutions focused on goals such as economic development, similar to those discussed by Rose and colleagues and Adisa and McManus.1Rose TC Daras K Manley J et al.The mental health and wellbeing impact of a Community Wealth Building programme in England: a difference-in-differences study.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e403-e410Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 2Adisa O McManus S Community mental health through a complex systems lens.Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8: e392-e393Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar These important efforts can help address poverty and economic inequality as one factor in the opioid crisis afflicting the USA and other nations as well as other substance use disorders. MB is an employee of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the US Government.